After taking a year off, the Verde River Canoe Challenge is back with a new name. Now called the Verde River Runoff, the event is no longer organized by Northern Arizona University.

The challenge, schedule for Saturday, March 23, takes boaters of all skill levels on about a 10-mile journey from the White Bridge in Camp Verde downstream to Beasley Flats.

In 2010, the Verde River’s water level was running so high, organizers cancelled the river run due to safety concerns. In 2012, the event ended after NAU no longer continued sponsorship. There was still interest, however, and the event is back, with the help of the Verde River Valley Nature Organization, the Camp Verde Chamber of Commerce, the Salt River Project and the Nature Conservancy.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, March 6, edition of The Camp Verde Journal or the Cottonwood Journal Extra.